Telegraph system.



C. K. JONES.

TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. APPLICATION rmm AUG.1'I, 190s. mmnwnn sn1 1' .12. 1907.

PATENTED JUNE 2, 190.8.

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No. 889,784. PATENTED JUNE'2, 1908. G. K. JONES.

TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

AiPLIOATION FILED we. 17, 1903. nxnwma 5221212, 1901.

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imrrnn sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

OHARLESKINNEY JONES, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF

THIRTY ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO RAILWAY TELEGRAPH AUTOMATIC SIGNAL 00., A GOR- PORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' I'atented. June 2, 1908.

Application filed August 17, 1903, Serial No. 169,693. Renewed September 12, 1907. Serial No. 392,569.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, rIARLEs ICINNEY JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in telegraphy whereby serious results due to the failure of operators to give proper attention to their instruments may be averted and breaks in the main line may be lo cated.

In train despatching great delay is occasioned and the safety of the trains endangered by the inability of the train despatcher to get operators promptly, resulting either through the absence of the operator at one or more stations from his instrument while attending to some of his many duties at remote points in the depot or freight-house, too far away to hear his official telegraphic call, or to the failure ofsuch operator to close his key or to remove his ground connection and preserve the continuity of the main line, or, again, to accident resulting in a break in the main line. And even with all at their posts and the system intact great delay is occasioned by the necessity of calling each operator separately when it is necessary to send the same despatch to all.

This invention is designed to overcome these dificulties, and it has for one of its important objects to operate a suitable signal at any local station should the operator at that station, through neglect or ignorance, leave the main line grounded longer than a certain predetermined length of time; a further object being to automatically shunt such local ground connection and reestablish the continuity of the main line.

Another object of the invention is to automatically shunt or cut out any one or more of the telegraph keys, and thereby reestablish continuity of the main line should the operator at any one or more stations,

through oversight or other cause, leave his key open longer than a predetermined time, a further object in this regard being to sound an alarm at each of the stations where the keys are open until the operator there closes such key.

right and left, it being understood that the break will be on that side of him from which no response comes.

ith these ends in view the invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in. the claims.

In the said drawingsFigure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a telegraphic system embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of'the invention, the ordinary devices of the telegraphic system being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail view of an armature-lever and the circuit-shunting-lever, or switch, hereinafter explained, and Fig. 4 is a detail cross section of said armature-lever and the block thereon for carrying a shoe hereinafter explained taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

1, 2 are the two terminals of the main line- Which lead into the local switch-board 3, hav ing usual ground plate 4; 5 is the ground connection; 6 is the sounder, 7 the relay and 8 the operators key, one stem or terminal of which latter is connected to main line terminal 1 through the helix of the relay by wires 9, 10, while the other stem or terminal is connected to main line terminal 2 by Wire 11. One terminal of the sounder 6 is connected by wire 12 to one stem of the relay circuit closer and the other terminal to one pole of relay battery 13 by wire 14, and the other pole of battery 13 is connected by wire 14 to the remaining stem of the relay.

A, B, O, D, E, F, G are binding posts,

which though not essential in the apparatus are useful in this description of the invention in defining the dividing line betweenthe ordinary devices of the telegraph system and the circuits and parts comprising this invention. The improvements are preferably, but not necessarily, applied to an ordinary timepiece or clock, the casing of the clock being also employed as a part of the casing for the operating mechanism of the invention which is connected up with the usual telegraphic instruments, and these seven binding posts may be regarded as mounted upon that casing. When used in connection with a clock, the arbor of the minutes hand is employed for operating a part of the invention, and to this end is extended through the back of the clock casing, as shown at 15, so as to afford at once a suitable support for an armaturelever 16 and yet allow said lever to fall when a magnet 17 becomes denergized and remains so for more than a predetermined length of time. This support preferably consists of a disk 18, conveniently composed of hard rubber or other insulating material, secured to arbor 15 and having a serrated periphery arranged under and supporting a shoe 19 whose engaging surface may also be serrated, and which shoe has ivotal connection with an adjustable bloc .20 onarmature-lever 16. One terminal of the winding of magnet 17 is connected by a wire 21 to a contact block 22 having contact 23, against which may bear a switch-spring 24 connected by a wire 25 with binding post E, which in turn is connected by wires 26 and 14 with battery 13. The remaining terminal of magnet 17 is'connected by a wire 27 to contact- 28, between which and a similarcontact 29 is arranged a ivoted contact or shunt-lever 30 which is he (:1 normally in engagement with contact 28 by gravity and by a delicate spring 31, which latter also serves to connect with wire 32. l/Vire 32 is connected by wire 33 to binding posts G and D; the post D is connected by wire 34 to local battery wire 12 and binding post G is connected to one end of the grounding plug cord or wire 35, whose other end carries the grounding plug 36, which is adapted to be inserted in switchboard 3 for grounding either terminal, 1, 2, of the main line, or in a suitable socket 36 in casing '37 for holding switch-spring 24 in engagement with contact 23 and also establishing connection between binding post G and sprin 24 for purposes presently explained.

38 is a magnet, one terminal of whose helix is connected by wire 39 to one terminal of any suitable electric signal, preferably a bell 40 the other terminal of this helix is connected by wire 41 to contact 29, and also by wire 42 to the remaining terminal of bell 40, the opposite terminal of bell 40 being also connected by wire 43 to binding post C, which latter in turn is connected by wire 44 to any suitable source of electricity, such as battery 45. The battery 45 is also connected to post D by wire 46.

One end of lever 30 carries an insulating block 47, which is arranged under one end of armature-lever 16 and adapted to be depressed thereby when magnet 17 is degagement with contact 28.

energized, permitting lever 16 to fall. Lever 16 is held from actual contact with the core of magnet 17 by any suitable stop 48 to prevent residual magnetism from retaining the armature 16 after circuit through magnet 17 is broken. l/Vhen armature-lever 16 drops upon the end of lever 30 it raises the opposite end of the latter away from contact 28 and into engagement with contact 29, and at the same time a contact 49 on lever 16 engages a contact 50 on the end of the core of magnet 38, the opposite end of said core being connected by wire 51 to binding post B and this latter by wire 52 to wire 11. The pivot of armature-lever 16 is connected by wire 53 to binding post A, which in turn is connected to wire 9 and key 8 by wire 54; and contact 28 is connected by wire 55 to contact plate 56 carried by, but insulated from, switch-spring 24 and adapted to make contact with a contact point 57 when plug 36 is withdrawn from its socket 36 The contact point 57 is connected by block 58 and wire 59 to binding post F and the latter by wire 60 to ground plate 5.

Assuming the parts to be in the condition shown in Fig. 1, but with the relay 7 open and the main line, 12 closed, the relay 7 will be energized by the main line current and the relay switch will be closed, causing the battery 13 to operate the sounder 6 by current passing from battery 13 over 146 12, the relay switch and 14 back to 13; a current from battery 13 will energize mag- -net 17 in passing from 13 over 27 direct to 28, along 30 to 31323334 and 12 to the switch of the relay 7, and from there over 26, E, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21 to magnet 17 and from magnet 17 back to battery 13 along 27 thus the two currents from batteries 13, 13 will actuate respectively the sounder 6 and the magnet 17 and each will have its local circuit, but both will use the switch of relay 7 as a part of their circuits. This causes the sounder and magnet 17 to be energized simultaneously when an impulse passes along the main line 1, 2. The energy of magnet 17 holds lever 16 elevated as long as such energy lasts and when it ceases the lever 16 falls a slight distance or moves outwardly from .magnet 17 by gravity or otherwise, and is supported by shoe 19 against disk 18 which is rotated continuously in unison with the minutes hand of the clock. The primary purpose of this disk is to prevent the momentary lack of energy in magnet 17 from resulting in the lever 16 descending against contact 50 or elevating lever 30 out of en- Should magnet 17 remain denergized longer than a predetermined length of time, however, the shoe 19 will be carried around and downward by the disk 18 far enough to cause lever 16 to connect with contact 50 and to elevate the lever 30 away from contact 28 and into engagement with contact 29. This may result from any one or more of the various causes due to accident to the main line or to carelessness or ignorance on the part of local operators or 'to the intentional opening of the main line by the train despatcher for the purpose of calling all local operators simultaneously, but when it occurs from whatever cause, .the alarm or signal 40 is operated or sounded to signify to the opera tor that he is wanted at his instrument for either receiving a message or for restoring his instrument to its normal condition, as, for

instance, removing his ground connection from the main lineor closing his key and re storing continuity of the main line. The bell 40 is thus sounded whenever contact lever 30 engages contact 29 by current passing from battery 45, or any other suitable source of electricity, to binding post D by wire 46 and from D along wires 33, 32, 31, lever 30, contact 29 and wire 29 and to the bell 40 along wire 41 and from the bell back to the battery over wire 43, binding post C and wire 44, and the bell will continue to ring as long as magnet 17 remains denergized or until the operator raises armaturelever 16 to its normal position with shoe 19 at the top of disk 18, (by means which will be presently described), but even then the bell will again ring after the lapse of the aforesaid predetermined time unlessthe magnet 17 be energized by proper attention to the instruments. This closing of battery current 45 through 29 and 30 also energizes magnet 38 and holds lever 16 down with positive force until the latter is again restored by the operator, and when thus restored or elevated the force of gravity or of spring 31 returns lever. 30 to its normal position out of contact with 29 and in contact with 28. This current passing through magnet winding 38 passes from battery 45 along wire 46, binding post D, wires 33, 32, 31, lever 30, contact 29, wires 29 and 41 to magnet 38, and from the latter along wires 39 and 43, binding post C and wire 44 back to battery 45.

Should the denergizing of the magnet 17 be due, for example, to the operator leaving his key 8 open longer than the predetermined time, say two minutes, the key will be shunted or cut out of the main line and the continuity of the main line restored through contacts 49 and 50, the core of magnet 38, lever 16, wire 53, binding post A, wires 54 and 9, i

relay winding 7, wire 10, switch-board 3 and main line terminal 1, the current coming in, for example, along main line terminal 2 to switch-board 3, thence along wires 11 and 52, binding post B, wire 51 and armature core 38 back to contacts 49 and 50. As soon as the key 8 is closed, however, and the operator raises the lever 16 by hand, the magnet 17 will be again energized and the circuit of bell 40 will be broken, the energy coming to ringing after the lapse of the predetermined.

time if plug 36 and spring 24 be not restored to normal. It is also evident that should the ground plug 36 be placed in either side of switch-board 3 for grounding either terminal 1, 2, of the main line the same result will occur after the lapse of the predetermined time necessary for the disk 18 to lower the lever 16. When plug 36 is in switch-board 3 and this time elapses, however, the ground connection 5 is automatically shunted or cut out, reestablishing continuity of the main line while the alarm 40 continues to ring until the plug is removed from board 3 and 1 6 is raised by the operator. This shunting of the ground 5 is due to the breaking of the circuit through magnet 17 by the separation of switch-spring 24 from contact 23, which oc curs when plug 36 is withdrawn from 24, and then the lever 16 being unrestrained will be lowered by the disk 18 after the predetermined length of time and contact 49 will even tually engage contact 50, whereupon the main line circuit will shunt around the ground connection as well as around key 8 from terminal 1 to board 3 along wire 10 to relay 7 and from the relay to the armature lever 16 via 9, 54, A and 53, and from 16 to main line terminal 2 via 49, 50, core of magnet 38, wire 51, binding post B, wires 52 and 11 and switch-board 3. At the same time the descending of lever 16 against an elevating lever 30 closes the circuit of the alarm bell 40 through contact 29, as above described, and as the elever 30 rises the local ground connection is broken by the separation of 30 from 28, it being evident that when plug 36 is withdrawn to be placed in switch-board 3 to connect either side of the board with binding post G through 36 and 35, the contact 56 engages contact 57 and the current flows from 2, (for example) along 3, 36, 35, G, 33, 32, 31, 30, 23, 55, 56, 57, 53, 59, F, and 60 to ground 5, but as soon as 30 separates from 28 this ground circuit is broken.

When a train despatcher desires to call all of the operators simultaneously it is simply necessary for him to open the main line for a period of two minutes, or any other predetermined length of time which is required for the disk 18 to lower the lever 16 until contacts 49, 50 engage and the lever 30 is elevated against contact 29, thus deenergizing all of the magnets 17 throughout the line and causing the bells 40 to ring.

As better shown in Fig. 2, the shoe 19 is set to one side of the vertical diameter of the disk 18, that is to the side towards which the disk rotates, so that the action of the disk on the shoe will always be in a downward direction and the pressure of the shoe will not directly oppose the rotation of the disk. In order that the shoe 19 may promptly return to its perpendicular position when lever 16 is raised a spring 62 is attached thereto, and in order that the tension of the spring may not be materially increased as the shoe moves outward and downward, the point of attachment 63 of the spring to the casing 37 is located below the point of attachment between the spring and the shoe, so that the are described by the spring will extend in the direction of movement of the shoe.

64 is a lift-rod for restoring lever 16 to its normal position, which passes through the bottom casing 37 and any suitable guide 65 and it is provided with an inside stop 66 to limit its downward movement and an outside stop 67 to limit its upward movement for preventing injury to lever 16. 68 is a latch arranged to engage over the rod 64 above sto 67 to prevent the upward movement of t 1e rod, if desired, or when the rod is raised to engage under stop 67 and prevent its downward movement, and consequently prevent lever 16 from descending, if desired. The energy of magnet 17 is, of course, necessarily faint, and in order that it may be sufficient to insure the operation of lever 16 it is desirable to provide this lever with a counterweight 69 made adjustable on the end thereof by a set screw 70, so that the opposite end of the lever will have but a slight preponderance of weight over the counter-weight.

The shoe 19 is pivoted at 71 to the block 20, which, as shown in Fig. 4, is in the form of a saddle slipped over the lever 16 with two shoulders 72 engaging under the lever, leaving room between for the stem of the shoe 19. The core of magnet 38 is made adjustable by a threaded stem 73 projecting therefrom through a suitable bracket 7 4, on either side of which is a thumb screw 75.

The nature of the apparatus requiring it to be of delicate construction, it is sometimes difficult to produce simultaneous engagement of contacts 49, 50 and lever 30 and contact 29, and therefore it is desirable to provide the end of lever 30 with a contact spring 76 which is let into a saw cut in the end of lever 30 and carries the aforesaid insulation 47 in position to be engaged by the lower end of an adjusting screw 79 which is threaded through lever 16 and has a jam-nut 80, so that the distance which lever 16 has to descend before breaking circuit at 28, 29, may be varied to suit requirements. A portion 81 of lever 30 may be extended under spring 76 to protect the latter from undue bending and to insure the proper oscillation of lever 30 by the action of lever 16. Lever 30 is pivoted at 82 in a suitable bracket 83 composed of insulating material.

15 is a support for the end of shaft 15.

While the described details of construction are desirable and very advantageous, it will nevertheless be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that a suitable operative device may be constructed with various modifications obvious to those skilled in the art and not necessary to explain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A telegraph system, comprising a relaycontrolled magnet, an armature therefor, circuit-closing devices actuated by said armature for closing the circuit through said magnet, a main line, a switch-board therein, a ground connection and a grounding plug connected with said circuit-closing devices, in combination with a grounding switch comprising two stationary contacts connected with said magnet and ground connection respectively, and two contacts movable in between said stationary contacts and insulated from each other and connected respectively with said circuit-closing devices and relay.

2. A telegraph system, comprising a relay controlled magnet, an armature therefor, circuit-closing devices consisting of a movable lever and two stationary contacts, said lever being adapted to be actuated by said armature for closing the circuit through said magnet, a main line, a switch-board therein, a ground connection and a grounding plug connected with one of the said members of said circuit-closing devices, in combination with a grounding-switch comprising two stationary contacts connected with said magnet and ground connection respectively, and two movable contacts arranged between the two last said stationary contacts and insulated from each other and connected re spectively with said relay and one of the members of said circuit-closing devices.

3. A telegraph system, comprising a relaycontrolled magnet, an armature therefor, circuit-closing devices consisting of a movable lever and two stationary contacts, said lever being adapted to be actuated by said armature for closing the circuit through said magnet, a main line, a switch-board therein, a ground connection and a grounding plug connected with said circuit-closing devices, in combination with a grounding-switch comprising two stationary contacts connected with said magnet and ground connection respectively and two movable contacts arranged between the last said station- .ary contacts and insulated from each other and connected respectively with said relay and one of the members of sa1d circuit-closing devices, an electric signal and an energizing circuit therefor, including said circuitclosing devices.

4. A telegraph system, comprising a main line, a relay-controlled electro-magnet, an armature therefor, circuit closing devices included in the circuit of said magnet and adapted to be actuated by said armature, a disk, means for rotating said disk and a support for said armature on said disk arranged normally to one side of the vertical diameter of said disk.

5. A telegraph system, comprising in combination a main line, two stationary contacts, a circuit-closer oscillatory between said contacts and comprising a thin spring secured to one end thereof and a projection under said spring, an electro-magnet, an armature therefor, adapted to impinge said spring for oscillating said circuit-closer, a third stationary contact, a contact point on said armature adapted to engage said third contact, a circuit for said magnet, including said first stationary contacts and connected with the main line, the operators key 0011- nected with the main line, and a shunt-circuit around said key including said armature and third stationary contact.

6. A telegraph system, comprising in combination a main line, a relay-controlled electro-magnet, an armature for said magnet connected with the main line via said relay, a stationary contact with which said armature engages also connected with the main line, two stationary contacts, one of which is connected with said magnet, a signal and a signal circuit in which the other is included, a circuit-closer arranged between said pair of stationary contacts and adapted to be operated by said armature and connected with said signal circuit, a second pair of stationary contacts, one of which is connected with the remaining terminal of said magnet and the other of which is grounded, a grounding-switch comprising two insulated contacts arranged between said second pair of contacts and connected respectively with one of the contacts of said first pair and said relay, and a grounding plug connected with said circuit-closer and adapted'to be connected with either terminal of the main line.

CHARLES KINNEY JONES. Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, M. B. ALLSTADT. 

